DEUT153 There is a verse in the Ten Commandments which can be translated: "You shall not make yourself an idol, the entire likeness of that which is in Heaven above" [this verse]. The Ba'al Akedah (Rabbi Isaac ben Moses Arama, 1420-1493, author of Akedath Yitzhak) explains: If at any time a man deems himself completely heavenly or spiritual, he has in effect made himself into an idol. If you deny yourself all physical pleasures and attempt to reject your basic humanity, you are climbing too high; you are imagining yourself a deity. If you are all spirit, you lose the common touch, and will share nothing with your fellow human beings. Now, the Torah does command us to be holy (Leviticus 11:44, 45; 19:2; 20:26). This denotes, however, that we as human beings must sanctify our physical life, our earthly activities. For, continues Scripture, "I, the Lord, am Holy." I, the Lord, alone am truly and completely holy–completely transcendent, entirely spiritual, utterly set apart. The holiness that the Almighty requires of us, though, is a human holiness: hallow your activities on earth, sanctify your every day, normal life. Be a man and be holy.